As hard as it might be to believe, the guy who sang "you can't be 20 on Sugar Mountain", will turn 60 this Saturday, November 12.
And what a year for Neil. There were some definite highs and frightening lows. Most importantly, Neil is still here and making music.
During 2005, Neil had quite a few memorable moments:
- Neil suffered a brain aneurysm and underwent successful surgery,
- Neil lost his father Scott Young, renowned Canadian journalist,
- inducted The Pretenders into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame,
- concluded the telecast for the Live 8 Benefit to "Make Poverty History"
- recorded and performed "Prairie Wind" in Nashville for the upcoming Jonathan Demme film,
- performed on "Shelter From the Storm: A Concert for the Gulf Coast" and MTV's React Now telethons to benefit Hurricane Katrina victims,
- musical guest for entire week on the Conan O'Brien TV Show, and
- hosted and performed to benefit Farm Aid and the Bridge School .
So another busy year.
So if you want to celebrate with other Neil fans, here's a few happenings:
- Neil Young Day in Rome, Italy,
- Japan Neil Fest Special - Osaka
- The Rust Never Sleeps Tribute Band in Brookline, New Hampshire, and
- radio stations around the world plan broadcast tributes (see comments), including Rust Radio, which will be playing a mix of Bridge School Benefit 18 (all artists), 19 (Neil's
set) and Farm Aid 2005.
Long May You Run, Neil!
Article comments
1 - Eric Olsen
I'm totally with you on the Neil reverence Thrasher! Even to this day he is underrated, I think, in that I find him every bit the equal of Dylan, and vastly more musically appealing.
For some reason it strikes me as much more jolting and dislocating to think of Neil as 60 than Dylan, McCartney, or the Stones. "60" jsut doesn't mean the same thing anymore, does it?
2 - thrasher
Eric,
It does seem to be that we are approaching the dusk of the great rock n roll chapter. With Young, Dylan, McCartney, Jagger, Richards, etc. all approaching or past 60 years old it does seem hard to believe.
But the important thing is that they're still out there.
Is it really better to burn out than to fade away?
Ask fans of Kurt Cobain.
Thrasher
3 - Ken Edwards
Neil Young is one of my favorites! I have always loved his music. He has done amazing things for Farm Aid and the Bridge School on top of being a consistently great and innovative artist through the years.
I saw him induct the Pretenders on MTV, and thought that was a wonderful show. I had no idea he had a brain aneurysm though.
4 - joann
Long May You Run, Neil!